Page 37 of Prove You Wrong

Chunk’s levelling his unwavering, non-judgmental, inescapable gaze on me. Can’t hide anything from him.

‘She’s made a snap judgement and got me pegged all wrong.’ I muss my head with the beefy glove still in situ.

‘Oh?’

‘She thinks she has me all figured out. That I’m abad guy… or bad influence.’

Chunk steps back, as if appraising me for the first time. Head dipping from side to side, he sizes me up. ‘Dude,Iknow you’re solid. But if she’s looking at you … your buzz cut and tattoos do kind of scream bad boy.’

‘You think my hair is the problem? I shaved it for charity for fuck’s sake!’

‘But does she know that?’ Chunk screws up his face in a friendly wince.

‘No,’ I mumble.

‘Well, show her who you really are.’

I scoff, half-heartedly punching a pad. ‘She’s probably right, anyway.’

Chunk laughs. ‘Youof all people are not a bad guy.’ He gestures clumsy speech marks in the air with the pads to punctuate the point.

‘Hardly a catch though, am I? I flunked out of uni — ’

A flashback snaps into my mind of me standing outside the students’ union bar, my results printed on a crumpled bit of paper, smudged from where my sweaty hand scrunched it up when the Dean told me I couldn’t continue with the course. Stacey’s lips moving in slow motion as she proclaimed she deserved better than me …

Chunk jolts me back to reality. ‘And your girlfriend dumped you, waa waa waa.’ He smacks me with the pad again. ‘You’repast that now so suck it up. That happened years ago. It doesn’t define you. You’re a fucking catch. She’d be lucky to know you. Now, punch properly. And stop moping like a little shit.’

‘This is the worst kind of pep talk,’I retort with a groan.

Chunk laughs and claps the pads together. ‘It’s what you deserve.’ He looks at me pointedly.

I run my hand across my head and sigh, ‘Fuck, man. She’s skittish and I don’t want to get it wrong.’

‘Did she say no in a “leave me alone and never contact me again, creep,” kind of way or in a, “I'm playing hard to get and you need to try harder,” kind of way?’

‘Maybe the latter? She didn’t actually say an out-and-out no. She was flirtybut said she didn’t datepeople like me.’ I throw out my arms, resigned. ‘I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about her.’ I puff out a long exhale. ‘And I hate that she’s ruled me out.’

Chunk gives a sympathetic nod.

‘If she won’t go on a date with me, how am I supposed to prove myself?’

‘Give it a day or so, ask her again. In the meantime, pull up your big boy pants, keep doing your own shit, know that you’re awesome, and throw a proper fucking punch.’

I jab quickly, trying to catch Chunk unaware but the bastard’s too quick for me. He deflects easily with a snigger.

‘And let’s hope she doesn’t find out about the way you spiralled into debauchery and corruption when you had your heart broken,’ he deadpans.

Chapter 13

Ella

The vibrating sounds seem to be magnified in my funeral parlour-like office. I should have my phone on silent or turned off, but then I worry about missing a call if someone needs me. So, I settle for vibrate and curse Josie every time she sends me a ridiculous meme that causes my phone to buzz across the desk. Although I love the way she’s always trying to make me laugh.

Subtly, I check the screen, hoping for a Josie message rather than some sort of bad news about my little sister.

Nate:How about that date?

I roll my eyes. He’s persistent, I’ll give him that. And he’s probably still trying his luck as I haven’t given a clear no. The truth is, Idowant to go outwith him. I haven’t enjoyed flirting so much in, well, ever. And then there were his superior bar skills, and I’m not referring to his cocktails. Although, they were good too.

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